Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-12-01

posted 1t 10 his pocket, and leisurely contin.
ued on his way, every trace Of his recent ex-
element having now entirely faded from his
face
The City Hall bell was just striking ten
. when Frederick Norton turned into narrow
| by'way known as Dayton's alley, leading
| from one of those over populated, garbage
choked streets In the lower part Of the metro
polls which so conclusively attest the neglect
of the Police Department In the performance
OF its duty. On either side rose tall, grim
| tenements, and here and there pickering
street-lamp shed its miserable light upon q
scene Of wretchedness and filth. Into one OF
| the most dilapidated houses Norton turned
With difficulty he CROPPED his way through a
dark, narrow passage and up several creaking
| flights Of stairs until he reached the topmost
story. He knocked upon door In the rear
| Of the hallway
"Come ill.," said rough voice.
He turned the knob aud entered small
| room, the only furniture of which consisted
| Of two old chairs, IL starch box, and a rickety
table, upon which burned kerosene lamp
with a cracked and snoke-dimmcd chimney.
swell, cd pal" greeted the man, who
stepped forward to IN ct him, and who was
| none other than our acquaintance Morry. 81
| knOw'd you'd c'ine. Set down. I'm glad
| ter see yer-wonderfully 50. It's goo many
| years since We last met--more Lor fifteen.
| He pushed one Of the chairs toward his WIS.,
| itor, then crossed to the door, which he closed
and bolted. Norton seated himself, and, un-
| buttoning his overcoat threw 1t open.
That's right; make yerself ter home old
palw exclaimed Morry.
''IIushr' said Norton, nervously; ''there
| may be some one within hearing"
Don't like ther name, hey! Why, there
was time yer didn't mind it; but that was
said Morry.
II have no time to spare" responded Nor.
| ton, SO let lis come at once to business What
do you want OF me! Money, | suppose-yei
| owe you nothing. Your share of the pin
affair YOU received long ago. You promised
| me then you would leave the country but you
| lied; and, now that You know am rich, you
| think you can extort money from me by
threats; but have a care how you tamper with
me-" and his hand sought his pocket and
clutcbed the revolver 1t contained
His companion understood tue motive OF
his movement however. for he had been
watching him closely, and quietly opening
the drawer of the table, he tool; therefrom a
large army pistol, saying:
mo nonsense wild me; yer know | amt
ther lad ter stand it. Why, thought yer
correction wild good sercity had learned yer
how ter behave on enterin' a gentleman $
apartments. Don't get excted-keep cool.
Give me Yer hat and let me hang it up on ther
floor fer ye"
lie took the hat from Norton's hand aud
placed II beneath the table
"Well, tell me " said Norton, in no very
amiable tone, what you have to say"
swell, then" replied his host, II knows
all about it."
"About what'n
"Why, about her-ther gal"
~ do not understand to whom you refer"
sob, yes, yer do. Come, now, none o. this
behind ther screen sort o. work. In plain
English know this: You has had a quarrel
wild a certain young woman, whose name we
won't mention, aud yer afraid o. her on &C
count o. a will Yer knows that women and
| wills Is ugly things ter fight and yer worried
and don't know what move ter make. Yer
head is kinder upset, but mine aln't-it never
is-and as ! looks at ther thing, it's plain that
either the will or the woman must be got rid
OF, and, as yer cant put yer hand COMMITMENT
ly on ther WILL why, there's nuthn remainin'
fer you ter do but ter git rid o. the woman
So far so good. But who's ter do thcr job!
o. course, not YOU That wouldn't he jus,
ther thing II must be done In a careful
quiet manner. You're perplexed, but I amt
a bit"
81 do not understand you"
sob, yes, yer do. Yer understands every
word I've spoke"
swell, suppose do; what follows"
"What follows! Why, a bargain, ter be
sure"
''Between whom."
Between me and you. ken do ther work
like er book"
For few seconds Norton appeared to be
lost in thought. Then he suddenly asked
"IIow much would such piece Of work be
worthl
"About five thousand dollars, should say
quietly replied his companion
1T Is too much"
''Not a ccnt-rcmcmber ther risk"
'Haf the sum would be quite enough"
IL begs yer pardon, it ought ter he twist
that by rights; but, ben' as | amt dom
nothn' ter speak OF just now, I'm will'n' tel
do ther job at ther price I've named. | never
had no objection, yer know, ter turnin' an
honest dollar What do yer SAYS it gof'
Norton was evidently considering the mat
ter for it was some time before he asked:
"How did you obtain possession of the facts
you have rccited!"
II don't know as that's any y your bust
ness, yet / don't mind telin' YER" replied
MOrry. eyer see, I've got sweetheart
named Molie as is out ter service She hap
pens ter be dom the chambcr-worh in thel
house where this charmin' young woman
we've been talkin' about is stoppin, Mollie'
a sharp gal, and ther amt much she dom
see and hear Now you no doubt thinket
when yer was taSin' love and sweet stuff Il
our pretty little friend, that there wasn't NJ
one a-lIstenin'; but Yer was mistaken, TO
! Mollie was Just outside o. the door a-listenin
\ wild her ears wide open T. every word. Oh,
my she must o. pitched inter yer hot, accord
in ter Mollie's tell. No wonder yer wen
| dashn along ther street like a luDerticli
after yer left her maxim holy show o. yer
self until my note brought yer to yer senses
| But this Amt ter ther point. What do yer say
to my pioperztion"
fro BE CONTINUED